The title of this psalm tells us that is was composed by David upon his conviction of the crowning sin of his life, when Nathan the prophet came to him (2 Samuel 12). By the Holy Spirit's guidance, it was composed with suited accuracy of expression for the confession of the far greater sin of rejection to the death of God's Beloved, which will come from the afflicted souls of the future remnant of the Jews.
Their sin is too deep, too dreadful, for Old Testament sacrifice and sin offering. Mercy alone can meet their case. The confession is complete, and without any reservation; but on the other hand, there is evident a confidence; the convicted sinner's confidence, once confession is from the heart, that the' offended God will pardon.
"Wash me ... . cleanse me," in verse 2, and the language of verses 7 and following, show this and more, that God will bless those who thus seek Him.
How solemnly those fearful words of Matthew 27:2525Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25) will come back in the thoughts of the convicted, yet confiding, sons and daughters of Judah! The latter part of verse 4 is quoted in Romans 3:4,4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4) where the portion of the Jew is considered in connection with God's dealings; and verse 5 in condemning man after the flesh, is only stating what is more fully declared in the same chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.
Verse 7 may be compared with Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18); "as white as snow" is something rare indeed, if it can be found at all, as everyone knows who has compared the whitest cloth with freshly fallen snow; yet the deep dye of guilt of sins innumerable is removed by taking the salvation God offers.
Whiter than snow surpasses anything on earth; this is the estimation of a saint who has fallen into sin, and in deep contrition looks to God for cleansing from all unrighteousness. The result of true self judgment after failure in a child of God, is a deeper sense of the holiness of God than ever before.
Verse 11 could not rightly be the language of any Christian, for the Holy Spirit does not leave those in whom He dwells (John 14:16, 1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17); Romans 8:9, 119But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)
11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11); 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1911And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19); 2 Corinthians 5:55Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:5); 2 Timothy 1:1414That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2 Timothy 1:14); 1 John 4:44Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4); Jude 1919These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. (Jude 19); Revelation 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)).
The Holy Spirit is spoken of many times in the Old Testament; He was in the prophets (1 Peter 1:1111Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1 Peter 1:11)), but did not and could not dwell or abide in anyone but the God-Man, until His death and resurrection and ascension, the finished work of the cross to which the Old Testament believers looked in hope (John 15:26; 16:13-1426But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)
13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:13‑14)).
The psalm closes with desires to declare the praise of God, and for the rebuilding of Jerusalem according to His purposes of old, when blessing will be worldwide.